San Diego FC (SDFC) secured its first-ever playoff victory in franchise history, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 in the opening match of the Western Conference Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs [4, 5, 13]. The match took place at a sold-out Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, in front of over 30,000 fans [4, 10]. Despite the absence of star player Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, SDFC demonstrated its ability to win, continuing a record-setting inaugural season [1, 9].
Key Moments
The game saw early scoring from San Diego FC, with Onni Valakari and Anders Dreyer finding the net in the first half [15, 17, 19]. Valakari's goal and Dreyer's, his team-leading 19th, put SDFC in a commanding position [3, 15]. Portland's comeback hopes were dampened when Colombian defender Jimer Fory received two yellow cards in quick succession in the 66th minute, reducing the Timbers to 10 men [16]. San Diego then controlled possession, effectively managing the game to secure the win [12, 16]. Introductions before the game acknowledged the significance of the home crowd advantage [1].
Player Impact
Anders Dreyer's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he not only scored a goal but also celebrated with teammate Luca Bombino [6, 15]. Dreyer's 19 goals and 18 assists lead the team [3]. The absence of "Chucky" Lozano from the gameday roster raised eyebrows, with reports suggesting a locker room altercation [7, 10, 18]. Coach Mikey Varas hinted at Lozano's potential return as early as next week, stating that "as long as there’s no setback, he’ll be back next week" [3, 7]. Varas also emphasized the importance of Lozano to the team [3]. Amahl Pellegrino, acquired in August, served as Lozano's backup [1]. Luca de la Torre noted the team's strategy to manage the game after Fory's ejection [12].
TL;DR
- San Diego FC won their first-ever playoff game, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1.
- Onni Valakari and Anders Dreyer scored the goals for San Diego in the first half.
- Hirving "Chucky" Lozano was absent from the squad due to an internal matter, but a return is hinted at soon.
- A red card for Portland's Jimer Fory in the 66th minute helped San Diego control the game and secure the victory.